A group of ten members from the Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin, USA were on Ambergris Caye volunteering their time at Smile Dental Clinic at Holy Cross Anglican School. The group of dental students, a doctor and two dental hygiene instructors were on the island from March 16th to March 19th. 
One of the co-leaders of the mission was Sue Kloosterboer, and she explained that it is the University’s first time to the island on such a study-abroad initiative. She explained that the mission includes seven second-year students who are about to graduate from the university’s dental program. While in Belize, they were under the supervision of a doctor and two dental hygiene instructors.
According to Kloosterboer, while the experience gives the students an opportunity to put their knowledge to the test, the real test is for them to learn to give back to humanity through their acquired skills. “It is an amazing experience for the dental students. They are very caring, giving people and they are finding out how wonderful it is to help people through their field of study. They are developing that sense of how import it is for them to use their skills to help people even when they are not paid to do so. It is very important for them to learn before entering into their career, to give back.”
As part of the services offered, the team conducted dental cleaning, sealants to prevent cavities, fillings, fluoride varnish and oral hygiene instruction to the students. During their four-day stay, the team saw over 75 students.
Dr. Mark Johnson, head of the Smile Dental Clinic, would like to take the opportunity to thank the students and the rest of the team for considering coming to Belize. He is hopeful that the university can send more dental teams to the Smile Dental Clinic in the future.
